Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN ODE, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Helen, did homer never see Last Line: So much my subject drowns the rest. Subject(s): Beauty | ||||||||
Helen, did Homer never see Thy beauties, yet could write of thee? Did Sappho on her seven-tongued lute, So speak (as yet it is not mute) Of Phao's form? Or doth the boy In whom Anacreon once did joy, Lie drawn to life, in his soft verse, As he whom Maro did rehearse? Was Lesbia sung by learned Catullus? Or Delia's graces, by Tibullus? Doth Cynthia, in Propertius' song Shine more, than she the stars among? Is Horace his each love so high Rapt from the earth, as not to die? With bright Lycoris, Gallus' choice, Whose fame hath an eternal voice? Or hath Corinna, by the name Her Ovid gave her, dimmed the fame Of Caesar's daughter, and the line Which all the world then styled divine? Hath Petrarch since his Laura raised Equal with her? Or Ronsard praised His new Cassandra, 'bove the old, Which all the fate of Troy foretold? Hath our great Sidney, Stella set, Where never star shone brighter yet? Or Constable's ambrosiac muse Made Dian not his notes refuse? Have all these done (and yet I miss The swan so relished Pancharis) And shall not I my Celia bring, Where men may see whom I do sing? Though I, in working of my song, Come short of all this learned throng, Yet sure my tunes will be the best, So much my subject drowns the rest. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN DIVINELY SUPERFLUOUS BEAUTY by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE BEAUTY OF THINGS by ROBINSON JEFFERS HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS LIFE FROM THE LIFELESS by ROBINSON JEFFERS REARMAMENT by ROBINSON JEFFERS SHANE ONEILLS CAIRN by ROBINSON JEFFERS A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 1. HIS EXCUSE FOR LOVING by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 4. HER TRIUMPH by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON |
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